All season long, a handful of the NHL’s Eastern Conference clubs have been jockeying for playoff positions. By comparison, the West looked straightforward.

That has changed since play resumed after February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Now, four Western teams are jockeying for one wild-card spot — and the Minnesota Wild may not be safe, either.

The streaks and slumps that are happening today could flip in an instant tomorrow, then flip again a week or two from now. It’s going to be a wild ride.

With exactly one month to go in the regular season, here’s the lay of the land in the Western wild-card race as of Tuesday, March 18.

Wild Card 1: Minnesota Wild – 68 GP, 81 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: third in Central Division, 70 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 5-6-1 (11 pts)

How They’ve Fared:With Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek on the shelf, the Wild’s offense has dried up. They’re last in the NHL in goals-for per game since the 4 Nations, averaging just 1.92.

The Road Ahead: The Wild got some much-needed breathing room with their first regulation win in nearly two weeks on Monday, but they’ve played more games than most of their rivals. Final-week clashes with the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames could prove to be crucial.

Notable Quote: “You look at other teams bulk up, and it just kind of gives you a little bit of jealousy. We know next year is next year and that we’ll have that off our plate finally, but it just feels a little bit frustrating when you always want to be in that position to succeed.” - Marcus Foligno, on the Wild’s salary-cap challenges preventing trade deadline additions.

Wild Card 2: Vancouver Canucks – 67 GP, 73 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: WC2, 63 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 5-7-0 (10 pts)

How They’ve Fared:Quinn Hughes is back, and center Elias Pettersson has started to find his game. The Canucks have served up some inspiring moments, but they’ve been mixed in with disappointments as Vancouver has failed to pull away from the chase pack.

The Road Ahead: After they finish their homestand against the league-best Winnipeg Jets, the Canucks start a tough six-game Eastern road trip with a crucial game in St. Louis on Thursday.

Notable Quote: “We could have separated ourselves today, and everyone knew how big that would be. Now, we’re still in the same position we’ve been in, which is do-or-die pretty much every day. It’s exciting. It’s a nice opportunity for us to see what type of group we are.” Quinn Hughes, after Vancouver’s 3-1 loss to Utah on Sunday.

Canucks Have One Of The Most Difficult Schedules To End The 2024-25 SeasonThe Vancouver Canucks are down to their final 15 regular season games for 2024-25 and will need every point they can get in order to qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vancouver will not be getting any breaks down the stretch, as they have one of the toughest schedules over the next month. This includes multiple matchups against the Winnipeg Jets and a six-game road trip that will take them to the East Coast. 

Out of Playoffs: St. Louis Blues – 68 GP, 73 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: out of playoffs, 55 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 8-2-2 (18 pts)

How They’ve Fared:The Blues rode a hot streak all the way to a Stanley Cup in 2019, and they are showing the same mojo now. Jordan Binnington has ridden Canada’s 4 Nations win to a 6-2-0 record, and the Blues are now scoring by committee in a big way. The power play is clicking at over 30 percent, and seven players have picked up 10 points or more in the last 12 games.

The Road Ahead: The Blues and Wild have played the most games of the contenders, but St. Louis has a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way. It could come down to the season finale against Utah on April 15.

Notable Quote: “We’ve sent the message that we love each other, and we want to find a way in this locker room and build for right now and the future.” Jordan Binnington, as rumors of a fire sale swirled before the trade deadline.

Bolduc's Patience, Willingness To Put In Small Details Starting To Pay Off For BluesMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Zack Bolduc understood this would be a process, and it would not come overnight.

Out of Playoffs: Calgary Flames – 66 GP, 71 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: out of playoffs, 60 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 4-4-3 (11 pts)

How They’ve Fared: Since upsetting Washington on Feb. 25, the Flames have gone 2-4-3, losing ground in the overall race rather than making it up. An injury to Mikael Backlund has left them thin at center, and Monday’s blowout loss in Toronto might have been the ugliest of the bunch.

The Road Ahead: The Flames have played fewer games than any team on this list. But they’re two games below .500 on the road this year and will play nine of their last 16 away from home.

Notable Quote: “It’s the biggest game of the year. It’s a must-win for us. I need more from everybody, including myself. We’ve got to get out of this, and we’re right back in a playoff spot if we win tomorrow night.” MacKenzie Weegar, looking toward Tuesday’s game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

Out of Playoffs: Utah Hockey Club – 67 GP, 71 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: out of playoffs, 57 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 6-3-2 (14 pts)

How They’ve Fared:Utah has been an analytics darling all season and started stringing together standings points after John Marino and Sean Durzi rejoined the blueline following months-long injuries. Clayton Keller has also had one of the hottest sticks in the league, with 15 points in 11 games.

The Road Ahead: Is Ian Cole the Utahn’s secret weapon? The well-travelled veteran defenseman has made the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, despite playing for seven different teams. He helped the Canucks bump their three-year drought last year. 

Notable Quote: “We're not going to make the playoffs by looking at the standings. We're going to make the playoffs by putting together good games, finding points and winning down the stretch.” Alexander Kerfoot on Sunday.

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New York Islanders prospect Dmitry Gamzin is closing in on a two-year extension with CSKA Moscow in the KHL.

Hearing #Isles prospect goaltender Dmitri Gamzin is closing in on a two-year extension with CSKA.

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) March 18, 2025

Gamzin was selected by the Islanders 118th overall in the 2024 draft.

The 21-year-old. has played 24 games for CSKA Moscow -- that's the same team that Ilya Sorokin played for -- and holds a save percentage of .928 and a goals-against average of 2.24. 

Signing this extension would mean Gamzin has no plan of coming to the United States soon to play in the NHL or AHL. But, for comparison, Sorokin did not leave the KHL to play for the Islanders until he was 25. Cross-town rival Igor Shesterkin also did not leave the KHL until he was 25.

Whether it is for development purposes or other reasons, it seems like spending time in the KHL is a priority for some goalies, and Gamzin would potentially be open to coming to the NHL or AHL after this extension is up in the 2027-28 season.

Joseph LaChase wrote this story. 

William Karlsson and Raphael Lavoie returned to the Vegas Golden Knights practice today in full contact for the first time since they suffered their injuries.

Karlsson hasn't played since Jan. 20 after sustaining a lower-body injury. It's the second injury to keep Karlsson out of the lineup, and it's why he's played in just 38 games this season. 

Both GM Kelly McCrimmon and HC Bruce Cassidy recently stated that the 32-year-old's return was imminent, and today's practice is a great sign that this proves to be true. Karlsson was a full participant, taking line rushes with Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith, replacing Victor Olofsson in the lineup.

Karlsson's offensive game hasn't been as apparent as it was just a season ago but his defensive game is vital to the Golden Knights success and it's why he's getting back into the lineup over Olofsson. 

Lines and pairs at practice:

Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Saad-Hertl-Dorofeyev
Roy-Karlsson-Smith
Pearson-Howden-Kolesar

Hague-Pietrangelo
Hanifin-Whitecloud
McNabb-Korczak

— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) March 18, 2025

The Golden Knights return to action on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, and it could mark Karlsson's return to the lineup.

Lavoie has been out of the lineup since Mar. 5, when he sustained an upper-body injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In nine games, Lavoie has failed to record a goal or point but has registered 16 hits and 10 shots on goal. 

If the Golden Knights are healthy by the time Lavoie is available to be reinstated from the injured reserve, he and Cole Schwindt will likely be sent to the AHL to accommodate the salary cap. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Hockey News Big Show is back to discuss some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Predicting Who Captures The NHL’s Wild-Card Spots by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:59: What's the driving force behind the Ottawa Senators’ success right now?

4:33: Do the Senators have a chance to catch the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning and possibly steal third spot in the Atlantic?

6:13: Is Auston Matthews truly healthy? What if anything is really going on with the Leafs captain, and how concerned should fans be?

9:58: The Carolina Hurricanes are 4-0 since the trade deadline. Why are the Hurricanes rolling, and more importantly, do we believe it can last? 

14:12: Sam Bennett is a pending UFA. Is it possible the Leafs could swing keeping Marner and adding Bennett in the off-season?

17:46: NHL GM meetings began on Monday. Which topic is up for discussion or possible rule change are you most interested in?

21:47: The St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Utah Hockey Club are making things very interesting for the final wild-card spot in the west. Which team are you making a case for to snag that last spot? Which team would be the toughest first-round matchup for the Winnipeg Jets?

24:54: Which team in contention for the final spot in the Eastern Conference wild-card race will put up the best or most interesting fight in the first round? 

28:33: William Nylander has 38 goals this season with 15 games left. Will he hit 50 goals this season?

30:18: The San Jose Sharks are the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. The Chicago Blackhawks will be next. Which team has more to be optimistic about next season?

32:38: What’s the bigger surprise? Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson scoring four goals in six games or Carolina’s Mark Jankowski getting four goals in his first four games as a Hurricane?

34:15: The PWHL broke the all-time American pro women's hockey attendance record on Sunday night, drawing a crowd of 14,288. It's the second-straight year Detroit has broken the U.S. record. Should Detroit be considered the favorite for an American expansion city?

37:20: A new Happy Gilmore 2 Trailer is out. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you to see this movie?

Watch the full episode here.   

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Every young player in the NHL has their guys that they grew up watching. Sidney Crosby is near the top of most lists as he’s been one of the best players in NHL history. For Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, it is well documented how much he looks up to the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. 

Of course, everyone wants to play hockey like Crosby. He has over 600 goals, over 1000 assists, and is closing in on his 1700th career point. Crosby has a chance of becoming the NHL’s all-time second-leading scorer behind Wayne Gretzky. He will break Gretzky’s record for the most career point-per-game seasons this year. 

Even being 37 on a lousy team, he’s putting up big numbers. In addition to these outstanding offensive numbers, Crosby puts much thought into his defensive game. He’s so good at keeping the opposition from scoring, and he has almost always been. 

Crosby's impressive playing has led to three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe Trophies, Two Hard Trophies, and many other prestigious awards. 

Connor Bedard, and every young player, can learn a lot from watching a player like Sid over the years. The way he plays hockey is as close to perfect as you can get. 

This week, we've seen something else that the young Bedard can learn from Crosby. It isn't all about shooting, passing, and skating either.  

In his two most recent games, Bedard was given a ten-minute game misconduct in each of them. One was from mouthing off to an official and one was him being a part of a scrum late in the game. Multiple people were thrown out with Bedard the second time. 

After practice on Monday, interim head coach Anders Sorensen spoke of the young star dealing with these things.

"Overall, I think he's very mature for being 19, especially with the amount of spotlight that's on him constantly. I'm impressed with how he handles it." Sorensen said about Bdard. 

"I remember Sidney Crosby went through a lot of that. I remember Peter Forsberg came into the league mild-mannered off the ice, but on the ice, it happens, right? They want to win. They want to be successful." 

Sorensen reminded everyone that Crosby dealt with something similar early on in his career. Dealing with confrontations is part of being a player in the NHL and few all-time greats struggled with it early as much as Crosby. 

Over time, Crosby learned how to pick his battles with both the opposition and the officials in the game. It certainly gets easier as the team around gets better. 

Going forward, Bedard can think of this as he continues to learn how to manage his emotions. When he does, it will be another step toward reaching his potential. We'll see if Sorensen's message about Crosby teaches Bedard a lesson that he needs. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore has returned to practice in a red, non-contact jersey.

Theodore has been out since the first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off after he received a hit and appeared to jam his wrist into the boards. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that the injury Theodore sustained was a broken wrist, but the Golden Knights never officially shared the details of the injury.

The 29-year-old's return date was never revealed either, but his status following the injury was labelled as week-to-week. Multiple insiders reported that Theodore wouldn't be ready until the beginning of the playoffs, but it appears he could be available well before that, barring any hiccups in his recovery. 

While Theodore has been out, Noah Hanifin and Kaedan Korczak have stepped up to fill the void. Korczak is playing on the third pairing alongside Brayden McNabb and has provided the Golden Knights with solid and safe hockey in his minutes.

Hanifin has stepped up to fill the offensive void. Since returning from the 4 Nations, the 28-year-old has scored three goals and nine points in 11 games. 

Theodore will need to practice with full contact at least once before returning to game action. He's currently on the injured reserve and would need to be activated beforehand, but Theodore inching closer to a return is great news for the Golden Knights as they gear up for the start of the playoffs. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The San Jose Sharks have recalled Luca Cagnoni from the American Hockey League for the first time.

The rookie defenseman has 47 points (13 goals, 47 assists) in 56 games this season. The defenseman is third in the entire AHL in rookie scoring and is second in points by defenseman overall.

The Sharks have recalled Luca Cagnoni from the @sjbarracuda. ⬆️

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 18, 2025

The 20-year-old has showcased an elite offensive ability from the blue line that the Sharks have desperately needed. His will skate in his first practice with the team on Tuesday and could make his NHL debut against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

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Stay updated with the most interesting Sharks stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

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Tuesday evening in Washington, the Detroit Red Wings will begin a two-part, four-game road trip with the potential to define the season.  After playing the Capitals, Detroit will return home for a day off then practice, before visiting the Golden Knights Saturday, Utah Monday, and Colorado Tuesday.  That's three bona fide Stanley Cup contenders in three days  

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The Red Wings begin the trip with 70 points in 67 games.  The Ottawa Senators (77 points in 66 games) have begun to create some separation between themselves in the race for the first wild card place in the East, but the fight for the second remains muddy.  The New York Rangers currently hold that berth with 72 points in 68 games, while the Montreal Canadiens (71 points in 66 games), Red Wings, and Columbus Blue Jackets (losers of four straight, 70 points in 67 games) vying to supplant them.

Over the time span of Detroit's trip, New York hosts the Maple Leafs and Canucks, then visits the Kings; the Habs host Colorado in between visits to the Islanders and Blues; and the Jackets host Florida, travel to Pittsburgh, then host the Islanders.

(As with every week at this moment in the season,) it's a week that could re-tier.  Having bounce back from their six-game losing streak with two wins from three games, the Red Wings' playoff hopes remain alive, so long as Detroit can manage a bear of a schedule.  

According to MoneyPuck.com, the Red Wings enter the trip with a 10.9% chance at qualifying for the playoffs.  Here are three questions that will help determine whether they can improve those odds in the week to come?

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Can Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin Re-Discover Their Peak Form?

In the 12 games since the 4 Nations Face-Off, Dylan Larkin has nine points (four goals and five assists), and Lucas Raymond has 10 (two goals and eight assists).  That's not bad production by any means, but it's also not quite to the standards those two have set for themselves.

Larkin also went point-less in four straight games Between Feb. 25 and Mar. 4, and he hasn't found a point in either of his last two games.  Meanwhile, Raymond went five straight games without a point between Feb. 25 and Mar. 6 and snapped a 10-game goal-less drought by scoring against the Golden Knights Sunday.

The Red Wings are heavily dependent on four players offensively (Raymond, Larkin, Patrick Kane, and Alex DeBrincat), but lately, it's been Kane and DeBrincat doing the heaviest lifting offensively.

At the moment, Larkin and Raymond are playing with Elmer Soderblom on their top line.  Asked last week about Soderblom's role on that line, Larkin observed, "Since he's come back up, I've noticed that he uses his body really well.  He doesn't shy away, and he's much more consistent.  It seems like every night he's on, and when you're a big guy like that, it's such a weapon to have on your team, where you can create a cycle by yourself and attract so many people, because they feel like they need to double up on you to take away your reach and whatnot.  So he really sets us up and starts the cycle for us and creates O zone presence."

Soderblom helps Larkin and Raymond establish possession down low in the offensive zone, opening up space for quality chances around the net.  His ridiculous reach is also clearly a factor for that line in all three zones when it comes to winning back pucks.  There are, however, moments when Soderblom doesn't quite seem to have the foot speed to keep up with those two running mates.  All told, short of breaking up Kane and DeBrincat, he's probably Detroit's best option with Larkin and Raymond with Marco Kasper back at center.

It's impossible to say just how big a factor the 4 Nations is in Larkin and Raymond's current form, and both players shoulder a significant two-way match-up responsibility, but the Red Wings will likely need just a bit more from them offensively to walk the difficult tightrope of their late season schedule to a playoff berth.

How Long Will Todd McLellan Be Able to Ride Petr Mrazek's Hot Hand?

The (very) early returns on the Red Wings' bet on Petr Mrazek's comeback to Hockeytown are positive.  He's won two of his three games, making 69 saves on 75 shots (.920 save percentage) with a 2.01 goals against average.  Mrazek is coming off an 18-save shutout to beat the Golden Knights Sunday, and now he's poised for his fourth start in a row Tuesday night in Washington.

Mrazek has a long-standing reputation as running hot and cold, and the return to Detroit has coaxed a hot spell out of him.  The Red Wings would hardly be the first team to ride great late-season goaltending to a playoff bid (hello, Alex Lyon and the '22-23 Florida Panthers), but it's fair to wonder just how long coach Todd McLellan can and will count on Mrazek to stay hot.

In his post-deadline press conference, general manager Steve Yzerman—answering a question about the future of 2021 Detroit first round pick Sebastian Cossa, presently tending the Griffins' goal in AHL Grand Rapids—noted that goaltenders need to play to stay sharp.

The back-to-back in Utah and Colorado early next week will require McLellan to spell Mrazek, but will he choose to do so before that also?  Cam Talbot has been the back-up for all of Mrazek's starts.  After Yzerman effectively declared after the deadline that Lyon isn't part of his team's future plans, McLellan also doesn't appear to count on him in the short term.

If Detroit keeps defending the way it did against Vegas Sunday afternoon, it's capable of making a strong case for the playoffs no matter who starts in net.

Which Way Will the Red Wings' Special Teams Bubble Burst?

The NHL began tracking power play statistics in 1977.  This year, the Red Wings are tracking for their best ever power play since that date and worst ever penalty kill.

To start with the good, the power play (currently humming along at 28.3%) is on pace to unseat the '08-09 unit (25.5%) as the club's best on record.  Those big four forwards mentioned above plus Moritz Seider have been nothing short of extraordinary, and a unit that was good under the old coaching staff has become even more formidable since McLellan's arrival.  On the other side of the coin, Detroit's penalty kill is at a 69.9% success rate, just over a percentage point worse than the '85-86 PK, which managed just a 71.0% kill rate.

It's a tragicomic dynamic with the potential to seriously swing the Red Wings' playoff fate.  Other than goaltending, the special teams battle tends to be the biggest driver in any individual game's outcome.  At this point in the season, neither of these units are going to regress to average; both of them are exceptional, for better or worse.

However, if Detroit can push the PK up to passable, it could force its way to the front of the wild card race, while if the PP slips to just really good instead of historic, the Red Wings could easily fall out entirely.

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Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley ranked third with an A grade in a recent poll that ranked all 32 NHL owners by The Athletic.

When Foley set a goal of winning a Stanley Cup inside the first six years of the franchise's existence, it raised plenty of eyebrows, but Foley and the Golden Knights have proved the doubters wrong.

The Golden Knights have played in eight seasons, winning a Stanley Cup, losing in the finals and making another two conference finals appearances. Their willingness to continue to trade or sign established players instead of developing drafted prospects is a philosophy that is very uncommon in today's game due to the salary cap, but it has changed the league.

ICYMI: Ranking the NHL's 32 ownership groups. Lot of great comments in here from fan bases from every team https://t.co/1Ujtz1CPTX

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 18, 2025

Recently, teams have been more inclined to ship draft picks and prospects at the deadline in search of players who drastically upgrade their lineup and improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

The all-out mindset in pursuing greatness stems from the owner, and the fans who voted in The Athletic's poll recognized this.

"VGK ownership is second to none. He supports his organizational team to the max and lets them do their jobs without any interference from him."

"Love his willingness to go all-in from Day 1."

Ranking ahead of Foley were Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola, both owners of teams that haven't been shy about spending their cash and assets to acquire top NHL talent.

What separates Foley from other owners is the situation he stepped into and the speed at which he found success. The Seattle Kraken, the league's most recent expansion team hasn't found garnering success as easily as the Golden Knights, but what the Kraken are going through was to be expected. 

"It’s almost ridiculous what the Golden Knights have accomplished in fewer than eight seasons in the league," said James Mirtle, the author of this article. "A trip to the Final in Year 1 as an expansion franchise. Four trips to the final four in their first seven postseasons. A pile of blockbusters trades and players flocking to a market many were skeptical of when Vegas was awarded an expansion team less than a decade ago. Foley set a lofty goal of winning a Stanley Cup within six seasons, and he certainly delivered. And, as a bonus, there may not be a more entertaining building to be at for a big game. Vegas fans voted Foley No. 1 in willingness to spend to win and fifth in franchise vision."

The Golden Knights are once again in a great situation to go on a long playoff run with a roster filled with super stars and depth.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The NHL announced Tuesday that the Nashville Predators will participate in the 2025 Global Series presented by Fastenal in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The Predators will play two regular-season games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. CT (8 p.m. CET) and on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. CT (3 p.m. CET).

The @NHL, @NHLPA and Live Nation announced the 2025 #NHLGlobalSeries Sweden presented by Fastenal, a pair of regular-season games featuring the @PredsNHL and @Penguins in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16.

For more: https://t.co/qQJZorUSf8pic.twitter.com/PnCCBSKlWv

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 18, 2025

Filip Forsberg, a native of Ostervala, Sweden, and the Predators' all-time leading goal scorer, spoke Tuesday morning at Bridgestone Arena about the opportunity to play NHL games in his native country for the first time.

"It's going to be a great time," Forsberg said. "[It's] a great opportunity, obviously, for me. I have a lot of people that might not be able to travel here to watch and now get the chance to watch me play in the NHL at home. It's pretty special."

Forsberg played junior hockey in Sweden for Leksands IF, about 160 miles northwest of Stockholm, before being drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2012.

"I don't know if I have any fans in Stockholm," he chuckled. "But I do know the Leksands proud will travel well and hopefully be well represented [at the Global Series games]."

Forsberg leads Nashville this season with 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) in 66 games, played at the 4 Nations Face-Off and has scored at least 40 goals in two of the past four seasons. He is joined on the Predators' by fellow countrymen Adam Wilsby and Andreas Englund, both of whom are from Stockholm.

The NHL and Live Nation will offer ticket presales for the Global Series on Tuesday, March 25 at 4 a.m. CT; tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, March 26 at 4 a.m. CT at LiveNation.se. The first opportunity to purchase tickets to both games will be available to fans in attendance at the first-ever Hockey Day in Sweden celebration, hosted this year by the city of Linköping on March 21-22.

The Anaheim Ducks hold a league-best 46-21 record against the spread this season with six more covers over the next closest team

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate. The game that sticks out is the Dallas Stars looking to bounce back after two straight losses in a matchup versus the league's best betting team in the Anaheim Ducks.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 6-2 record on our last eight picks and our 16-6 record on our last 22 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars Best Bets:

• Ducks +2.5 (-170)

This is an easy spot where we can fade the public and profit from it. The Ducks have quietly been the best betting team in the NHL this season with a resounding 46-21 record against the spread with six more covers over the next closest team.

They have been able to maintain this dominant status away from their home building as well with a 24-10 road record against the spread this season. Anaheim has lost five out of their last six road games but have won two straight matchups versus Dallas.

More NHL: MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race

Despite already beating the Stars not long ago in early February, no one believes the Ducks have a remote chance in this one with Dallas garnering just short of 80 per cent of the bets on the puck line and 96 per cent of the bets on the moneyline.

This is a game that the sportsbooks will be really pulling for the Ducks as virtually everyone wins if the Stars do. They are coming off two straight losses to the Jets and Avalanche but return home for this seemingly softball matchup.

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There is no doubt they will come out swinging as the Stars are just two points ahead of Colorado and would very much like to keep their standing to maintain home ice in a first round matchup. Every points to the Stars in this one and this is where we get sucked into the trap as we are getting a horrible value yet people still want to ride with Dallas.

More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts

 The odds continue to climb for the Stars and continue to get a better for the Ducks, so much so that we can afford to take them at two goals to cover and still get a modest -170 odds that can give a decent return as they take on a Dallas team that is 31-35 against the spread this season.

The anticipated Future Watch issue is when The Hockey News looks at the future of the game, including the top 100 prospects in hockey.

This year's edition, which is available to purchase online as a single issue or with a subscription, features a top 100 list with plenty of intriguing prospects who rose, fell or dropped from the 2024 rankings.

The Hockey News reached out to a scout, director of player personnel or GM from each NHL team to list which prospects look to be the best five to 10 years down the line.

Every year, there are plenty of changes to the top 100 prospects list because many players graduate to the NHL, and a new draft class takes many of those spots.

Last year’s list, for example, had Matvei Michkov, Cutter Gauthier, Will Smith, Simon Edvinsson, Brandt Clarke and Jiri Kulich in the top six. They’re all in the NHL now, as well as Logan Stankoven (22nd), Dustin Wolf (36th) and Lane Huston (49th).

The Montreal Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in 2024, Ivan Demidov, is already hockey’s top prospect, while Beckett Sennecke, Zeev Buium, Artyom Levshunov, Zayne Parekh, Sam Dickinson and Tij Iginla are other 2024 draft picks making the top 10.

Biggest Risers

As for the biggest risers from the top 100 prospects in 2024 to the 2025 list, New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (53rd to 13th) claims the throne.

Ritchie’s 40-spot jump correlates with his emergence as one of the best players in the OHL last season and a stint in the NHL to start this campaign. He earned seven games with the Colorado Avalanche after recording three points in four pre-season games.

Recovering from the shoulder injury that plagued him throughout his draft year and showcasing the full potential of his game was what saw him fly up the list. The Islanders acquired him as part of the package that sent Brock Nelson to the Avalanche.

Quentin Musty (plus-32), Tanner Molendyk (plus-31), Fedor Svechkov (plus-30) and Lian Bichsel (plus-30) rounded out the top five biggest risers. Musty’s strong year in Sudbury saw him go from 73rd to 41st, and it likely would have been higher had he not delayed the start of his OHL season due to a trade request. He has 59 points in 33 games.

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Biggest Fallers

On the flip side, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty (minus-41) was among a trio of players who fell 40 or more spots, along with Joakim Kemell (minus-40) and Colby Barlow (minus-40). Gavin Brindley (minus-38) and Noah Ostlund (minus-35) round out the top five fallers.

McGroarty was expected to be in the NHL to start the season with Pittsburgh. While he made the team initially, he looked to be in over his head and behind the pace of play, not recording a point in three games. Falling from 35 to 76 was a drastic fall, but a relatively underwhelming AHL year contributed to the steep decline. He has 14 goals and 38 points in 56 games for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Barlow (17th in 2024) and Ostlund (25th in 2024) both fell out of the top 50. Barlow has 57 points in 59 OHL games despite having 58 in 50 last season, and Ostlund has 24 points in 37 AHL games in his first full season in North America.

Brindley (55th to 93rd) is one of the more interesting players to fall. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect had a slow season from a production standpoint, but he started the year late because of an injury, and it’s his first pro season. He could be a prime candidate for a bounce-back campaign next season, and we could see him shoot right back up this list.

Some prosepcts fell from the list altogether. Hunter Brzustewicz ranked 52nd in 2024 but now ranks sixth in the Calgary Flames’ prospect pool after the team drafted Parekh, Matvei Gridin and Andrew Basha in 2024. Other notable dropped players include Theo Lindstein (65th in 2024), Matthew Wood (87th in 2024) and William Dufour (90th in 2024).

For a full look at the Future Watch issue, including all of the players mentioned here and more, subscribe to The Hockey News today. You’ll also gain access to the entire history of The Hockey News magazine’s digital archive going back over 75 years.

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March 16th, 2002, started just like any other day. That night, the Columbus Blue Jackets were playing the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena, and I would be there. Little did we know how bad the day would turn out for one family though.  

The Jackets would beat the Flames 3-1 that night. Geoff Sanderson scored, Cole Sillinger's dad Mike would score, and Ray Whitney would put on a show, scoring a goal and getting two assists. 

The game also had some legends playing. Players like Bob Boughner, Jarome Iginla, Marc Savard, Craig Conroy, and Craig Berube were playing for the Flames. The Jackets had Jody Shelley, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Kevin Dineen, Mike Sillinger, and Rusty Klesla playing. It was the O.G. days of CBJ hockey for sure. 

That night I sat in section 219, staring down at the attack twice net for the Flames. Midway through the second period, Norwegian forward Espen Knutsen took a harmless shot that was deflected way up into the stands behind Columbus goalie Ron Rugnutt. That happened a lot, with pucks flying into the stands. You can usually see the ushers walking down to where the puck landed and giving a thumbs-up if everyone is okay. 

1st Annual Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day Set For May 31st In New JerseyOn May 31st, the 1st annual Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day will occur in Washington Lake Park, Sewell, NJ. If you’re in Columbus, Calgary, or anywhere else in North America and would like to participate, you’ll be able to do just that by completing a virtual 5k.

But on this one, someone was hurt. A few minutes later, you could see what looked to be a teenage girl walking with a coat pressed to her head, and leaving. Usually, that means the puck drew blood and that they were going to get patched up. The game continued, the Jackets won, and fans went home happy. 

Little did we know though, that the young girl who was struck, suffered a skull fracture and had been taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital in downtown Columbus. Reports say that she suffered a seizure and was kept for observation. She seemed to be doing fine according to reports, even still holding the puck that hit her while sitting in her hospital bed. 

The hospital performed a CT Scan on Brittanie but failed to see that she had a torn vertebral artery, which resulted in severe clotting, causing her brain to swell. On March 18, 2002, young Brittanie Cecil passed away at 5:15 PM after developing a high fever and losing consciousness. She was just 13 years old. She died two days before her 14th birthday. 

When the local news and newspapers reported Brittanie's passing, fans in Columbus and around the league were shocked. How could this happen? What could be done to prevent this? 

Jackets forward Espen Knutsen said about the incident, "I think about it all the time. It was a terrible accident, and I cannot get it off my mind." Knutsen was given the option of sitting out the next game but chose to play. Reports say that Knutsen was sobbing in the Columbus locker room after he heard of Cecil's passing. 

"I'm not sure what being haunted by something really means, but if it means feeling the pain of what happened to that little girl all these years, feeling so bad for her family, wanting to tell them how sorry I am, then I guess that's what this is for me," Knutsen told the Columbus Dispatch in 2010. Former CBJ head coach Dave King said, "That incident ended his career. Espen was a wonderful person, and he had talent. But he was never the same player after that." King also said, "He was beyond consoling, and that was for weeks and weeks."

Knutsen, who had two stellar seasons for the expansion Jackets, scoring 22 goals and totaling 95 points, was never the same. In the next two seasons, he played just 45 games, mainly due to injury. He would retire in 2005 after playing just 211 NHL games. 

Flames defenseman Derek Morris said,  "You try to say, 'It happens all the time,' but you can't. I don't know how many times pucks get deflected over the glass, but it doesn't make it any better. You can always say, 'It's not my fault,' but you always feel like it is, a little." Morris would go on to play 1107 NHL games over 16 seasons. 

In the aftermath of Cecil's death, the NHL implemented certain safety measures to prevent something like this from happening ever again. Gary Bettman ordered that glass be a standardized height in all arenas, and also protective netting be added to prevent high-speed pucks from going into the stands. Nowadays, most fans don't even notice the netting, as it has just become part of the experience. 

Cecil's family would set up The Brittanie Nichole Cecil Memorial Scholarship Fund. Per their website -  "The Fund will award scholarships to graduating seniors of Hilliard Darby and Twin Valley South High Schools who wish to become the best person they can be."

On this date, March 18th, we remember young Blue Jackets fan Brittanie Cecil, who would be 37 years old on March 20th.

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Blue Jackets Stop Scoring Drought At 183 Minutes, But Drop Fourth Straight GameWell, it finally happened. After approximately 183 minutes, the Columbus Blue Jackets scored an NHL goal. In a strange twist, Mathieu Olivier is the one who scored the last goal against the Devils last Tuesday and scored the lone goal against the Devils on Monday. It is his 16th goal of the season.  Blue Jackets Weekly Injury Report: Week 22The NHL season is winding down, but injuries are piling up across the league. For the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have 16 games left in the season, but unlike most teams, they’re getting players back from injury.

Jake Allen may not be a member of the Montreal Canadiens anymore, but last night, the netminder gave his former team a hand when he backstopped the New Jersey Devils to a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is no small feat since the Devils are without Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, and the Ohio outfit is desperate to book its ticket to the playoffs.

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Allen stopped 45 of the 46 shots sent his way and was named the game's first star. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils, while Mathieu Olivier was the sole goal scorer for the Jackets.

The loss leaves Columbus in 11th place in the East with 70 points in 67 games. Dean Evason’s team still trails the Canadiens by one point, but Martin St-Louis’ men now have a game in hand.

The Buffalo Sabres, who are dead last in the East, also gave Montreal a hand by beating the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime thanks to an Alex Tuch goal. Even if the Bruins collected a point, they now have 69 points in 69 games and have played more than all the other teams involved in the playoff race.

The Canadiens are still only one point behind the New York Rangers, but the Habs have two games in hand. The Blueshirts will battle it out with the Calgary Flames, who are also involved in a tight race to the finish in the Western Conference. The Alberta team is two points out of the last wild card spot after a defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs and should be playing with a desperation that will match the Rangers’.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings, trailing the Canadiens by one point, will take on the Washington Capitals, just two points out of the top spot in the league. Detroit has also played one more game than Montreal.

The Canadiens are the masters of their destiny but wins by the Flames and the Capitals and a triumph over the Ottawa Senators would put them in an even better position—the second wild-card spot in the East.

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New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin is set to start his 51st game of the 2024-25 season against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In doing so, Sorokin will be the first goalie to appear in at least 51 games four times in Islanders history.

This milestone will come two days after the netminder became the first goalie in team history to win at least 25 games in four straight seasons, per Eric Hornick’s The Skinny. 

Sorokin Sets Islanders Franchise Record After Win Against FloridaIlya Sorokin earned the win in net for the New York Islanders over the Florida Panthers on Sunday and made some unique history in the process. 

Sorokin's play this season has kept the Islanders in the playoff race, as the netminder holds a 25-20-5 record, a 2.73 GAA, a .907 SV%, and 14.7 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck.

In his career, Sorokin is 120-85-35 in 242 career games with a .917 SV%, 2.58 GAA, and 21 shutouts.

With over seven seasons remaining on his eight-year, $66 million contract, the 30-year-old can continue re-writing the record books.

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